Postgraduate arrival information

Pre-arrival Tasks

Here are some things that you will need to do before you arrive in Cambridge.

Complete Student Registration process

A few weeks before the start of term, all students should receive an email inviting them to complete the University’s Student Registration process. This ensures the information held on your student record is correct.

If you are a new student, this process also enables you to set up your University IT account. Your account will comprise a username, which is your CRSid (the first part of your Cambridge email address), and a password. With this account, you can access lots of University websites, as well as external websites, documents and research. It also means you only need to remember one password to access multiple systems.

The College and University will communicate with you via your Cambridge (@cam.ac.uk) email address. We recommend checking this email regularly.

 

Register with a Cambridge doctor

As a new student it is essential that you register with a Cambridge General Practitioner (GP), as this will allow you to receive emergency care if you need it as well as quick and easy access to health services while you’re at University. Do not leave this until you become ill.

You can choose to register with any local GP. Registration is online and we highly recommend that you complete the process before arriving in Cambridge. You will need to have photo ID (e.g. a passport or driving license) and to take a headshot of yourself holding your photo ID next to your face.

New students who have pre-existing medical conditions and/or repeat prescriptions will need to make a phone appointment with their new GP to discuss this once they have registered. It is also recommended that students with pre-existing medical conditions email the College Nurse for advice about what support might be available.

EU and International Students

Students coming to the UK on a student visa for six months or longer will have paid an immigration health surcharge as part of their visa application fee. This entitles students to access NHS care free of charge in the same way as a permanent UK resident. You may need to pay for dental and optical treatment as well as for any medicine prescribed by a doctor and collected from a pharmacy. More information is available on the International Students website.

Arrange accommodation

College Accommodation

If you are living in College-owned accommodation, you will receive initial details about your room in mid-August and will be asked to accept it. In mid-September, an accommodation licence will be sent to your @cam.ac.uk email account. This is an important document, so please read it carefully and make a note of its conditions before you officially sign it.

Private Accommodation

If you are living in private accommodation, you will need to make your own arrangements.

Reply to Matriculation Dinner invitation

The Postgraduate Matriculation Dinner will be held on Friday 18 October. You will be sent an invitation to this via your @cam.ac.uk email account – please reply to the invitation by Wednesday 21 September, and include any dietary requirements.

Tasks For Your First Week(s)

We would encourage you to complete the following tasks soon after arriving in Cambridge. Those marked with an asterisk (*) are only relevant to international students.

Collect/present immigration documents*

Collecting your BRP

If you selected to collect your BRP from the University during your visa application, you will be able to collect it from the Tutorial Office. You will receive an email from the Tutorial Office once it has arrived in college and is ready to collect.

If you chose to collect your BRP from the Post Office, please collect it as soon as possible after you arrive in the UK.

Presenting Immigration Documents

If you are on a student visa, then you will need to visit the Tutorial Office with evidence of your student immigration documentation for your student record, in accordance with UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) requirements. This needs to happen before the official start date of your course, and you will need to attend in person to have your documents checked and scanned. You will receive an email about the arrangements in mid-September.

Collect University card

Your University card will have many functions during your time in Cambridge, including access to department buildings, the College gates and accommodation. The card is also used to pay for meals in the cafeteria and for purchases in the Aula Bar. Catering charges are added to your College bill payable at the start of each term.

If you are moving into College accommodation, please go directly to the Porters’ Lodge at Wychfield to collect your card from 2pm on the 25 September (unless you have arranged an earlier arrival). If your card is not ready to collect, you will be issued with a temporary card to provide access to your room in the interim.

If you are living in private accommodation, you can collect your University Card from the Porters’ Lodge on Central Site in October.

Complete matriculation form

Matriculation marks the formal admission of a student to membership of the University. Every candidate for matriculation must subscribe to a declaration by completing an online matriculation form which will be sent to you via email in early October.

Please note that if you have matriculated at Cambridge previously for a different degree, you will not be required to complete this online process a second time.

Open a UK bank account*

If you don’t already have a UK bank account, you will need to open one. Most banks will ask for proof of your address. If you need a letter from the College to confirm your address and student status, please email the Postgraduate Officer and include the name of the bank you wish to use. They will issue you with a letter once you have arrived in Cambridge.

Find your College pigeonhole

Your College pigeonhole is the place where your physical mail is delivered. This can be found at the Porters’ Lodge on Central Site. If you are living in College accommodation, you will also have a pigeonhole at Wychfield.

Register your bike with College

Bicycles must be registered at the Central Site Porters’ Lodge within two weeks of arrival. You can store bikes in the College cycle racks but this is on a first come, first served basis.

Explore the city

Take some time to explore the city of Cambridge, to discover the location of your favourite supermarkets, shops and cafés, etc. You will also want to find your Department and plan your route to lectures.

Read the Student Handbook

The College produces an annual Student Handbook, which contains a wealth of useful and important information. The Handbook is updated in September each year, and you will be emailed with a link to the Handbook when it is finalised.

Visit the College intranet

The College Intranet is the central repository for information (the daily Cafeteria menus are very popular!) and is also the place to book facilities or seek assistance from various departments. You will be given access via your Cambridge IT account shortly before you arrive.

Make sure you provide the College with your UK bank account details – this can be done via the meal booking system on the College intranet.

Orientation Events & Other Dates

Here are some important dates for your first few weeks in Cambridge.

25 September 2pm onwards: Moving in to College accommodation

College accommodation is available to occupy from Wednesday 25 September 2024 so you will be able to move in from this date. If your Department has asked you to arrive earlier, please email the Admissions Officer by 20 August 2024, with documentary evidence to support the request.

27 September 9am: Postgraduate Briefing

A Postgraduate Briefing will be held at Trinity Hall on Friday 27 September 2024 at 9am, to welcome you to the College and to introduce you to the Postgraduate Tutors and key members of college staff.

All new students are required to provide original documentation in person to confirm their identity. Please bring a valid passport or UK photo card driving licence to the Briefing and we’ll check it then. However, if you have already presented your passport to the Tutorial Office as part of your immigration check, then you don’t need to bring it to the Briefing.

18 October 5.30pm: Postgraduate Matriculation Photo

The Postgraduate Matriculation Group Photo will take place on Friday 18 October 2024 at 5.30pm on Latham Lawn. It will be possible to book individual portraits on the same day. Further details will be sent towards the start of term.

18 October 6pm: Postgraduate McMenemy Seminar

The Postgraduate McMenemy Seminar will take place at Trinity Hall on Friday 18 October at 6pm. One of the primary functions of a college for graduate students is to bring together students from different departments, and the McMenemy Seminars are an important part of how Trinity Hall makes this happen. All are welcome to attend.

18 October 6.45pm: Postgraduate Matriculation Dinner

The Postgraduate Matriculation Dinner will take place on Friday 18 October 2024 at 6.45pm for pre-dinner drinks in the Master’s Lodge, with dinner in the Hall at 7.30pm. Dress code: Smart attire with gown. You will receive a formal invitation to this event, and you will need to reply by Wednesday 21 September.

About gowns

You will need a gown for the matriculation photograph and for Formal Hall dinners you attend (and eventually for graduation). The Cambridge Student Union website explains which gown you need.

Stockists of gowns to buy or hire:

MCR Fresher welcome events

The MCR Committee organise their own Fresher welcome events and they will contact you separately with the details close to the start of term. The MCR is the College’s postgraduate student body.

College Accommodation Information

All full-time students are required to live in Cambridge for the duration of their studies. This section contains answers to frequently asked questions about College accommodation.

If you wish to rent privately, you can register with the University Accommodation Service.

When will I hear which room I have been allocated?

If you requested accommodation and you have received notification that you have been successful, you can expect to receive details of your room in mid-August.

In mid-September, you will be sent an accommodation licence, which you will need to accept by clicking on the link.

When can I move in?

College accommodation will be available for occupation from 2pm on Wednesday 25 September. If your Department has asked you to arrive earlier, please email the Admissions Officer by 30 August 2024, with documentary evidence to support the request.

Access to your accommodation is via your University Card which can be collected from the Porters’ Lodge at Wychfield when you arrive.

Can I view my room in advance?

Unfortunately it is not possible to arrange viewings of individual rooms in person. However, you can view an example of a room via the College’s Virtual Tour.

How long does my tenancy last?

All postgraduate accommodation licences run from 25 September 2024 until 30 June 2025. Postgraduates may extend their tenancy beyond 30 June up to 31 August, provided they are still a registered postgraduate student. This extension is subject to accommodation being available and it may be necessary for students staying beyond 30 June to move to a different College room. All licence extensions beyond 30 June remain subject to the conditions of the original accommodation licence.

Does my room include insurance?

Postgraduates living in college accommodation are covered by a mandatory room insurance policy. This gives a basic level of cover for personal possessions in rooms and bicycle cover. The exact cost is to be confirmed but is likely to be in the region of £16 per annum and is added to Michaelmas Term college bills.

Do I need a TV licence?

Your room does not include a TV licence, so you will need to get your own if necessary. You can find further information about licencing requirements on the TV licencing website.

What is provided in bedrooms?

All rooms will be furnished with a bed, desk, desk chair, clothes cupboard, desk lamp and rubbish bin.

All students are provided with a mattress protector, a duvet, and pillow(s) as standard, and this is included in the room rent.

If you choose to opt in to the College linen service, you will receive a clean pillowcase and sheet every week (on Fridays), and a clean duvet cover every second week. The cost of the linen service will be outlined in your accommodation licence. If you choose to opt out of the linen service, you will not pay any additional laundry charges but will need to provide and launder your own bed linen.

Fridges and cooking appliances are not allowed in bedrooms except where permission has been granted for medical or religious reasons. Please email the Postgraduate Officer if you wish to apply for permission.

What are the shared kitchens like?

All kitchens at Wychfield are fully equipped with a fridge, oven, microwave, toaster and kettle. You can see some kitchens on the Wychfield Site Virtual Tour.

What should I bring with me?

You are encouraged to bring the following items with you:

  • Warm clothes, walking shoes or trainers, formal clothes (smart dress, jacket, shirt and tie)
  • Your own linen if you are not opting into the college linen service
  • Towels, personal items e.g. hairdryer, shaver, etc.
  • Crockery, cutlery and mugs
  • Extension leads
  • Clothes hangers

The following items are not permitted in College accommodation, so please do not bring any of these:

  • Candles, incense burners/oil burners
  • Fairy lights
  • Electric scooters
  • Deep fat fryers, chip pans, rice cookers, slow cookers, portable hobs, hot plates and grills, sandwich toasters
  • Portable heaters
  • Electric blankets
  • Untested electrical items
  • Travel adaptor plugs which do not comply with British Standards BS1363
  • Pets

Where can I wash my clothes?

Coin-operated washing machines and dryers are available at our Wychfield accommodation site.

Can my friend stay overnight in my room?

Overnight guests are permitted in accommodation for a maximum of three nights in any seven consecutive nights up to a maximum of ten nights in a calendar month. All guests must be registered with the Porters’ Lodge at Wychfield.

College Bills & Student Accounts

All postgraduate students have an account to which tuition fees and living expenses, including rent, catering, formal dining, and electricity, are charged. Tuition fees are charged in three termly instalments. If you have any questions about your account, please email the Student Accounts Clerk.

The College pays bursaries, awards and deposit refunds by electronic transfer. When you arrive, please record your UK bank details by logging on to the Meal Booking System on the College intranet and selecting the relevant tab.

When and how are bills issued?

Bills will be distributed at the beginning of the Michaelmas, Lent and Easter Terms, and at the start of the Long Vacation, and will be sent to your @cam.ac.uk email address. Payment will be due within 14 days of receipt of the bill.

If you are an international student, please do not make payment to Trinity Hall until you have received your visa.

Do I need to pay a deposit?

All students are required to pay a deposit of £250 in their first term. This will be held as a deposit on your account and will be refunded at least 6 weeks after you leave the College (allowing time for all end-of-term charges to be applied to your account).

What forms of payment do you accept?

The College accepts the following types of payment: Sterling Cheques, Banker’s Drafts, Bank Transfers (details are shown on your invoice), Debit Cards and Credit Cards.

What if I don't pay my bills on time?

Postgraduates who do not pay their bills on time are liable to be charged an overdue account charge of £1 per day from the due date. Repeated failure to pay a bill on time may incur an additional administration charge of £25 for bills of up to £25, £50 for bills of up to £50, and £100 for other amounts. Students will also risk not being allowed to return to College and may not be presented for their degrees if money is owed to the College.

If you are unable to pay in full by the required date, you must email the Student Accounts Clerk in advance. Any student experiencing financial difficulties should discuss these with their Tutor. To book a meeting with the Postgraduate tutor, please email the Postgraduate Officer.

All students must clear their accounts at least 2 weeks before graduation; otherwise, students may not be able to graduate on the date they wish. Students will be informed of the bill balance on their account via email.

College Facilities

One of the benefits of being a College member is that you have access to a range of great facilities at the College.

College dining

The Aula Bar Coffee shop serves sandwiches, snacks and cakes and the Cafeteria offers a selection of hot meals at reasonable prices. On Sundays during term time, the Cafeteria also opens for brunch from 9.30am to 12 noon and is child friendly.

You can find the opening times and daily menus of the College’s catering outlets on the College’s intranet.

The College hosts several types of formal dinners during term time – Postgrad Hall on Wednesday evenings, Formal Hall on Thursday and Sunday evenings, Super Halls usually once or twice per term. Places are booked via the College meal booking system on the intranet. The price for Formal Hall in 2023-24 for a member was £16.85 and guests £25.50.

Libraries

One of the advantages of studying in Cambridge is the diversity of its libraries. All members of Trinity Hall have 24/7 access to the College’s Jerwood Library.

The Library Essentials Guide is for new students and provides an overview of the information you may need in your first term.

CamGuides is a set of resources for students beginning their degrees at Cambridge.

IT services

You can set up your Cambridge IT account before you arrive in Cambridge by completing your student registration.

There are two guides prepared by the University Information Service (UIS) to get you started.

Getting Started with IT @ Cambridge

IT services for students

If you have any problems or questions once you arrive, please contact the College IT team by submitting a service request via the College Intranet. You can also use the College intranet to view information about WiFi, wired network and computing facilities.

Music

Music plays a very important role in the life of Trinity Hall and is overseen by the College’s Director of Music. All genres of music are encouraged and there are countless opportunities to get involved, whether by simply making use of the College’s musical facilities, by singing in the chapel choir, or by attending or performing in one of the many eclectic solo or ensemble concerts presented by the Trinity Hall Music Society.

Sports

Students enjoy a wide variety of sports at Trinity Hall. Whether you are an established athlete or interested in trying something new, there is sure to be something here for you.

The University gym is on the West Cambridge university site and has a range of membership packages.

Chapel and interfaith room

Our inviting Chapel welcomes anyone from Trinity Hall and their guests to our services, regardless of your beliefs.

For those who prefer another option to practice their faith, the interfaith room at Trinity Hall is a different space that can be used by all. A room for private prayer, meditation or quiet contemplation, this is a place where you can go any time to make the most of your own personal peace.

MCR common room

Postgraduate students are members of the Middle Combination Room (MCR), which is the College’s postgraduate community. The MCR organises programmes of social events and provides a framework for postgraduate student representation on college committees. The MCR common room is in Front Court on Central Site and it is used to socialise with other students, work, or simply relax in a comfy chair with a coffee.

When you arrive, you will automatically be added to the MCR email list which is where events are advertised. The MCR committee will also contact you directly about the Freshers’ Events they organise at the start of the year.

Networking opportunities

The focus of most of your academic study will be your faculty or department, and there is no formal teaching or supervisions provided by the College. However, Trinity Hall aims to provide a place to belong within a broader academic community through various initiatives.

For example, you can expect to be invited to attend a subject-based dining night either during Michaelmas or Lent term where you can dine for free at a Postgrad Hall with other college members researching in similar or allied fields.

Support & Wellbeing

We devote both time and resources to make sure our students are happy and feel at home in Cambridge, so they can get the most out of their course. We pride ourselves on being a supportive community, where students and staff play an active role in looking after one another.

Postgraduate Tutors

Each Trinity Hall student is assigned a Tutor to help advise on pastoral, administrative, financial, and academic concerns.

You will receive an email with the contact details of the tutor who has been allocated to you within the first few weeks of arrival. You will also be invited to meet with them informally. The tutors are supported by the Postgraduate Officer, who is your point of contact for day-to-day queries.

Health and Wellbeing Support

The College has a Wellbeing Team who offer information, support and guidance to all students on wellbeing matters, including physical and mental health, and disability related concerns.

The University has a wide range of health and wellbeing services and resources available for students. A few are listed below for your reference:

  • The Accessibility and Disability Resource Centre (ADRC) is available to all students and offers advice, information and guidance to disabled students; you do not need to have disclosed a disability on your application in order to contact the team.
  • The University Counselling Service is a free self-referral service available to all registered students for one-to-one counselling, groups, workshops and self-help resources.
  • The University Student Support webpages encourage you to take responsibility for your own health and wellbeing, also empowering you to seek help when you need it. The site contains various University and non-University services available in Cambridge (eg The University Wellbeing Service, Harassment and Violence Support, Mental Health Advice Service and others).

College Porters

The Porters are a friendly, helpful and experienced team and are here to support, advise and assist students with a variety of practical aspects during their time at Trinity Hall.

Collectively, they are responsible for the security and safety of the College site, its buildings and its occupants throughout the 24-hour day. They provide help and advice on a variety of matters including post and pigeonholes, cycles, first aid and international storage.

Getting Around Cambridge

If you are completely new to Cambridge, have a look at our map to locate the College’s Central and Wychfield Sites.

The interactive University map shows details and locations of Faculties, Colleges and Departments.

Universal bus service

The Universal bus service links Eddington with West Cambridge, the city centre (Queens College/Silver Street), the railway station and the Cambridge Biomedical Campus (including Addenbrookes), running up to every 15 mins. The route map can be seen on the University Map or on Whippet’s website. The fare is £1 per single journey for University card holders or £2.50 for unlimited travel for 24 hours.

Cycling in Cambridge

Cambridge is relatively flat and has an extensive cycle route network. CamCycle is a local charity which has been working for safer cycling and they have produced this useful guide to cycling in Cambridge. To buy either a new or second-hand bike, you can search online but be wary of buying bikes directly from individuals or online adverts as they may be stolen. If you wish, you can check the frame number against an online database of stolen bikes.